TorontoCity Mayoral Candidate Rob Ford is photographed during an interview at The Globe and Mail in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Deborah Baic/The Globe and MailToronto,/The Globe and Mail
The YWCA has taken the unusual step of speaking out directly against a specific mayoral candidate, issuing a strongly worded critique of Rob Ford.
In a release issued on Tuesday, the organization chronicled its past relationship with the city councillor, saying he campaigned against an affordable housing project in his riding and backed out of a mayoral debate on women's issues at the last minute.
"We want political leaders to lead by example, that is with evidence-based arguments, with vision and with compassion," said a released signed by CEO Heather McGregor and advocacy director Sarah Blackstock. "That is not our experience with Rob Ford."
In 2003, the YWCA began development of a four story, 68-unit apartment building on Bergamot Avenue in Mr. Ford's riding that would provide affordable housing for women as well as a child care centre.
Mr. Ford opposed its construction and refused to meet with the group to discuss the plans, the YWCA said. It also said the mayoral candidate intentionally mischaracterized the building as a homeless shelter to constituents in his riding.
"We understand that people have legitimate concerns about what's being built in their communities, but a good civic leader brings people together and fosters debate and comes up with a strategy that works," Ms. Blackstock said Tuesday.
Fraser MacDonald, a spokesperson for the Ford campaign, dismissed the YWCA statement as motivated by "political differences."
"Rob Ford has always stood up for women's issues and will take big steps forward for women's issues if elected Mayor," he said.
Asked specifically about the Bergamot development, Mr. MacDonald said the candidate does not support the construction of new public housing.
"He instead believes that we should use this money to subsidize rent for lower-income people to get them into mixed housing and some of the tens of the thousands of vacant rental units in the city," he said. "This is a win-win for landlords and people who would otherwise be in public housing."
Mr. Ford also failed to participate in a mayoral debate hosted by the YWCA on Sept. 10 after originally agreeing to attend. Ms. Blackstock said he informed them of his decision in a 2 a.m. phone call on the day of the event, saying he had scheduled a fundraising barbecue at the same time.
She insisted that the YWCA statement regarding Mr. Ford is not an endorsement of any of the other candidates.
"The stakes are so high, we felt we had to speak out," she said.
Sarah Thomson, owner of the Women's Post and a former mayoral candidate who dropped out of the race to back Mr. Smitherman, also circulated the YWCA statement Tuesday, and issued her own news release calling on women to rally together against Mr. Ford.
"We have to stop Rob Ford," she said in an interview. "I've been with this man for eight months, almost day in and day out. I've seen his decision making and his judgment and I can tell you, it's not good."
The most recent Nanos Research poll conducted for The Globe and Mail/CTV/CP24 revealed a notable gender split in support for Mr. Ford. Only 27.9 per cent of women chose him as their first choice for mayor, while 41.9 per cent of men backed his candidacy.